Maundy Thursday, or Zelený čtvrtek (Green Thursday) as it is known in Czech, is the last Thursday before Easter.

Why is it called “Green” in Czech?

One explanation is that, in many places before the 13th century, green vestments were used for Mass on that day.

Another theory refers to “the Green Ones” — penitents who, after being readmitted to the Church, wore sprigs of green herbs to express their joy. The “grün” in the German name for the day, Gründonnerstag (literally Green Thursday), does not come from the name of the color itself but from a corruption of the old German word “greinen” or “weinen,” meaning “to weep.”

Bells Fall Silent Until Saturday

On the evening before Easter, all church bells are rung before they fall silent until White Saturday.

According to tradition, the bells are said to “fly to Rome.” In their absence, children use rattles and wooden clappers, which are sounded morning, noon, and night in place of bells. In some places, they were even believed to help drive away Judas.

Fasting and Green Food Traditions

A strict fast was once observed on Green Thursday.

Because only one complete meatless meal was allowed — free of any food of animal origin — people ate mainly vegetables. This is another reason why the day became associated with the color green.

Eating green vegetables is still a common tradition in many parts of Europe. In Czechia and Moravia, people often eat green herb soup followed by a green salad.

Rivers, Laziness, and Jidášky

On Zelený čtvrtek, children were expected to wake up very early and bathe naked in a river. This was believed to cure laziness.

After returning home, cold and complaining about being forced to do something they would normally enjoy in summer, they were rewarded with rope-shaped jidášky pastries.

Jidášky are sweet pastries traditionally eaten on Green Thursday and are often served with honey.

A Famous Passage From Babička

To end the article on Green Thursday, here is a passage inspired by one of the most famous Czech books ever written, Babička by Božena Němcová:

“On Green Thursday, the children knew that there would be nothing else for breakfast but jidášky. There were no bees in Staré bělidlo, however, father always sent them honey. Father was a beekeeper and he had many beehives. He promised Mrs. Prošková that when he got a good swarm, they would get one too, because he overheard the grandmother say that there was nothing she would like more than a beehive. One is happy when one sees the bees coming in and out of the hive and working hard all day.”

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